Luxury Travel Meets History At These Top 6 Iconic Historic Hotels

Nordic Hotels & Resorts (part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts) has converted iconic buildings in three of the most alluring destinations in Northern Europe into luxury hotels. These hotels offer visitors an opportunity to experience the rich Scandinavian and Nordic culture by combining old-world charm with modern amenities.

Oslo, Norway

Oslo is the oldest of the Scandinavian capitals and is considered one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Nordics, with nods to explorers, a rich maritime history, and legendary design.

Sommerro: Bringing Community to Light Sommerro is Norway’s largest-ever preservation and most ambitious hotel project to date. It is set within a landmark 1930s building that was once the headquarters of the city’s electrical company, Oslo Lysverker. The hotel pays homage to a fusion of neoclassical contemporary aesthetics with original historic elements that have been meticulously refurbished. One of Norway’s last remaining public baths from 1932 has been restored to its former glory and reimagined as a 15,000-square-foot subterranean urban wellness retreat, Vestkantbadet. Serving as the largest city resort wellness space across the Nordic countries, the space features an original restored Roman bath, gym, and infrared sauna.

Amerikalinjen: A Contemporary Take on Oslo’s Seafaring History Amerikalinjen was transformed into a vibrant modern boutique hotel 100 years after its opening as the headquarters for The Norwegian America Line that transported locals across the Atlantic to the New World. The luxury retreat offers 122 elegantly-designed rooms and suites that served as The Norwegian America Line’s former boardrooms, upscale amenities, and a prime location for guests to launch new adventures. Gustav, a chic jazz club inspired by New York’s jazz scene, is named after The Norwegian America Line’s founder, Gustav Severin Henriksen.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Denmark’s capital city was once a Viking fishing settlement and now charms visitors with traces of Nordic explorers interwoven with an exceptional cosmopolitan offering of food, architecture, and art.

Villa Copenhagen: A Grande Dame with Modern Touches Housed in the century-old Danish Post and Telegraph office, adjacent to Tivoli Gardens, Villa Copenhagen is a Grande Dame hotel for the 21st century, offering approachable, conscious luxury through a commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and meaningful experiences that connect guests to the landscape, culture, and energy of the city. The grandeur of the 1912 Neo-Baroque architecture is entwined throughout the building, with rooms featuring high ceilings, herringbone floors, restored original windows, gold accents, and muted color palettes that pay homage to paintings by 19th-century Danish master Vilhelm Hammershøi.

Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki, Finland’s small capital city, was founded by Swedish invaders in 1550 and is big on history with a luxe touch, offering access to historic UNESCO sites right outside the doorstep of some of the most prestigious hotels in the world.

Klaus K Hotel: In the heart of Helsinki, Klaus K Hotel seamlessly blends Finnish heritage with modern comfort and style. Drawing inspiration from the country’s national epic poem, The Kalevala, the hotel incorporates elements of mythology into its design, including the egg shape which is prominently featured in the check-in desk and Sky Suite. Combining two architecturally significant buildings, the hotel boasts 171 rooms in a stunning 19th century Art Nouveau style. As the first Design Hotel in Finland, Klaus K Hotel weaves local folklore into every aspect of its design, from the Klaus K Bar & Lounge to the rooftop Sky Terrace and Restaurant Toscanini.

Hotel Lilla Roberts: Hotel Lilla Roberts is an elegant and chic hotel that draws inspiration from the Art Deco style of the 1930s. Situated in the trendy Kaartinkaupunki design district, the hotel combines contemporary conveniences with a vintage sophistication. Originally constructed as a power plant in 1909, the building was repurposed as the city’s police department in 1974 before being transformed into a 130-room Green Key hotel in 2015. The hotel offers spacious rooms in five different categories, including Comfort, Style, Lux, Junior Suite, and Suite, to cater to guests’ preferences. In addition to its stylish interiors, Hotel Lilla Roberts partners with a rotating list of designers each month to offer guests exclusive benefits on designer fashion.

Hotel Haven: Nestled in the heart of Old Helsinki’s Market Square, Hotel Haven is a stylish blend of modern refinement and rich history. Hotel Haven is housed in the second-oldest stone building in the city, which boasts five original living spaces protected by the Finnish government. This gives guests a glimpse into the lives of merchants from over two centuries ago. The hotel’s 137 rooms and suites are spread across six categories and offer guests curated comforts. The Sundmans’ building, which houses Restaurant Haven, was once the home of ship captain and merchant Gustaf Wilhelm Sundman, who played an essential role in developing the Port of Helsinki. The building’s design is credited to Carl Ludvig Engel, the architect behind the creation of Helsinki’s historical center.